đ± Brooke Tries to Slap Bethany â âYouâre Not My Real Mother!â | What Larry Does Next Changes Everything
Chapter 1: The Slap That Never Landed
Rain pounded against the windows of the old house.
Thunder rolled across the sky as tension filled the living room.
The ticking clock echoed loudly â tick⊠tick⊠tickâŠ
Bethany stood near the fireplace, her hands slightly trembling, though she tried to remain calm.
âBrooke,â she said softly.
âYou need to listen to me. Iâm only trying to help you.â
Brookeâs eyes burned with anger.
Years of confusion and resentment boiled inside her chest.
âHelp me?â she snapped.
Her voice cracked with emotion.
âYou call this helping me?â
Suddenly, Brooke raised her hand.
Bethany gasped as Brooke swung her arm forward.
âYou are NOT my real mother!â Brooke screamed.
Bethany closed her eyes, expecting the slap.
But it never came.
Brookeâs hand froze in midair.
Because behind themâ
A door slowly creaked open.
Both women turned.
Standing in the hallway was Larry.
Chapter 2: The Man in the Hallway
Larry leaned against the doorway, his expression dark and unreadable.
Brooke slowly lowered her hand.
Bethany looked terrified.
âLarryâŠâ she whispered.
Brooke turned toward him with blazing eyes.
âWell?â she demanded.
âWhat are you going to do now?â
Larry walked into the room slowly. The wooden floor creaked beneath his boots.
For years, Larry had been the quiet man of the house.
The observer.
The one who watched everything.
But tonight⊠something had changed.
âBrooke,â Larry said calmly.
âPut your hand down.â
âI already did,â Brooke snapped.
Larry looked at Bethany⊠then back at Brooke.
A heavy sigh escaped him.
âYou finally said it.â
Brooke frowned.
âFinally said what?â
Larryâs eyes darkened.
âThe truth.â
Bethanyâs face went pale.
Chapter 3: The Secret Bethany Hid
Brooke stared at both of them.
âWhat truth?â she demanded.
Bethany shook her head desperately.
âLarry⊠donât.â
But Larry continued.
âYou deserve to know,â he said quietly.
Brooke crossed her arms.
âGood. Because Iâve been asking for the truth my whole life.â
Larry took a deep breath.
âBethany isnât your real mother.â
The words echoed through the room like thunder.
Brooke froze.
âI knew itâŠâ she whispered.
Bethany began crying softly.
âBut,â Larry continued, âthatâs not the whole story.â
Brookeâs heart began pounding.
âWhat do you mean?â
Larry turned to Bethany.
âTell her.â
Bethany slowly lifted her tear-filled eyes.
âBrooke⊠I didnât steal you,â she whispered.
Brookeâs voice trembled.
âThen whose child am I?â
Bethany took a shaky breath.
âYou were left on our doorstep⊠seventeen years ago.â
Chapter 4: The Night Brooke Was Found
Bethany slowly walked toward the window.
Her voice softened as memories returned.
âIt was storming that night.â
Larry nodded.
âWe heard a baby crying outside.â
Bethany continued.
âWhen we opened the door⊠there you were.â
Brookeâs mind raced.
âYouâre lying,â she said.
Bethany shook her head.
âThere was a note.â
Brookeâs heart skipped.
âWhat note?â
Larry walked to a drawer and pulled out an old folded piece of paper.
The edges were worn with time.
âI kept it,â he said.
He handed it to Brooke.
Her hands trembled as she opened it.
The message read:
âProtect her. Theyâre looking for her.â
Brooke slowly looked up.
âWhoâs looking for me?â
Suddenlyâ
The lights flickered.
Thenâ
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Someone pounded on the front door.
All three of them froze.
Larryâs face turned deadly serious.
âToo late,â he muttered.
Brooke whispered,
âWhat do you mean⊠too late?â
Larry looked at her.
âBecause whoever left you hereâŠâ
ââŠwas running from someone.â
Chapter 5: The Knock at the Door
The pounding on the door grew louder.
A voice shouted from outside.
âOPEN THE DOOR! WE KNOW SHEâS HERE!â
Brookeâs heart dropped.
Bethany grabbed her arm in fear.
âLarryâŠâ she whispered.
Brooke looked at him desperately.
âWhat are you going to do now?â
Larry slowly reached into his coat.
And pulled out a gun.
His voice became cold and steady.
âNowâŠâ
ââŠwe find out whoâs been hunting you.â
The door handle began turning.
Thenâ
CRASH!
The door burst open.
Three men in black coats stepped inside.
One of them looked directly at Brooke.
And smiled.
âThere you are.â
Brooke felt cold fear crawl down her spine.
The man stepped closer.
âSeventeen yearsâŠâ
âWeâve been looking for you.â
